This Product Discontinued or Obsolete
While current owners of this device or plan may continue to find performance to be adequate for the foreseeable tech-future, we do not recommend upgrading to or purchasing it.
The Novatel Global Modem USB730L is a Verizon USB cellular modem, released in July 2017.
It replaced the Novatel Global USB U620L, which was released in July 2015.
The updated model is very similar but the USB730L has a Cat 6 cellular modem (max theoretical speed of 300Mbps) while the U620L had a Cat 4 modem (max theoretical speed of 150Mbps).
This potential speed doubling is exciting - but a substantial performance advantage will only really show up under ideal network conditions.
But the future headroom as Verizon evolves its network is certainly nice to have.
Specifications
- Model #: 730L (MC730)
- # of Connected Devices: Single device via USB
- Control Panel and Default Password:
Control Panel: http://my.usb/ or http://192.168.1.1
Default Password: "admin" - USB Tethering Support: Yes
- Supported Networks and Bands:
4G/LTE: 2, 3, 4, 5, 13
3G: HSPA+ 850/1900/2100MHz; EVDO
2G: GSM EDGE - LTE-Advanced Carrier Aggregation: Yes, 2-band
- MIMO Support: 2X2 internal
- LTE Performance Category: Category 6
(Max Theoretical Speed: 300Mbps Down / 50Mbps Up) - Cellular Antenna Ports: Single unofficial "test port" - TS9 connector.
- Other Ports: N/A
- Wi-Fi Technology / Frequencies: N/A
- Claimed Battery Life: N/A - no battery
- Can Be Powered Without a Battery: Yes
- Dimensions: 3.27'' x 1.38'' x 0.45'' / 2.08 oz
- SIM Card Type: Nano
- Retail Price: $249.99
News, Videos, & Status
Novatel sent us a review unit. Members can follow along with our testing here: Cellular Equipment Field Testing Results – Netgear Modems / USB730 (Late 2017)
Overall the unit works as advertised but a dedicated mobile hotspot device (Jetpack) will be more powerful, more useful and cheaper for the majority of users.
Unboxing Video & First Impressions
Here is our product unboxing video, and initial thoughts:
News Stories:
Alternatives to Consider
For other popular mobile hotspots on the market - here are our featured options:
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The USB730L is available directly from Verizon and third-party sellers like Ebay and Amazon.
Mobile hotspot devices are small, self-contained units that receive a cellular data signal and transform it into an internet connection. They are a cellular modem and router combined. Most can create their own personal Wi-Fi network.
They are typically designed with a specific cellular carrier in mind and require a suitable cellular data plan of their own to operate. You might see them called Jetpacks (Verizon's term for them) or MiFi (Inseego's name for them).
Here's a quick video going over the features of a hotspot, and what makes one better than another:
The guides below have been hand-picked to help further your education about selecting mobile hotspots and best utilizing them in your mobile internet setup.
Mobile Internet Resource Center (dba Two Steps Beyond LLC) is founded by Chris & Cherie of 